Starlet Marcus Edwards joins Excelsior Rotterdam on loan

Spurs youngster will need to impress as his future in north London hangs in the balance

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Marcus Edwards has joined Excelsior Rotterdam on loan, the club have announced.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder moves to the Eredivisie club on the back of a disappointing 2017/18 campaign which saw him hit by injuries and a failed temporary switch to Norwich City.

Marcus Edwards in action for Tottenham’s Under-23s against Liverpool.

Edwards managed just one appearance for the Canaries, as an 86th minute substitute against Fulham, and is now going to have another spell away from north London, despite links to a permanent move with Bayer Leverkusen.

The youngster is still highly-rated but has been dogged by accusations of having a poor attitude.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino once labelled him ‘Mini Messi’ due to his playing style, but now appears to regret the comment.

The Argentine boss said in his recent book: “He [Edwards] has authority and behavioural problems, and we have to look at the bigger picture to find out the root cause. There was a time when it would have been seen as impossible for him to play professionally, let alone make it in the Premier League.

“Our challenge is to get him to accept the pathway we’ve laid out for him, and it’s our responsibility to make sure he behaves himself when he trains with the first team (with all the rules and obligations this involves). He has no shortage of talent, but there are gaps to be filled: he has to learn to score ugly, run more and be committed.”

Edwards in action against Arsenal for Spurs Under-23s

Edwards’ only professional appearance for Tottenham remains an exciting cameo in a League Cup win over Gillingham in 2016.